“You don’t want to know,” Ian responded.
“Sure you do. Hold on.” Not having any idea what either of them were talking about, Sofie was desperate to know about this Twinkie.
“Twinkies,” Ian grumbled. “The man has the palate of an eight-year-old boy.”
“I’d love to know what you’re talking about.”
Ian rubbed his hand across the back of his neck, obviously frustrated and ridiculously adorable. “A Twinkie is a snack cake. It’s a yellow sponge cake filled with a sweet cream.”
“That sounds quite delicious. You know I like sweets. Is there a baker in the town who makes these Twinkies?”
“Not even close,” Ian smirked. “They’re mass produced, packed in cellophane sleeves, and have a shelf life of between thirty and fifty years.”
As if on cue, John reentered the room with a china plate, which he held out for her. “Your Highness, something for you to try.”
“Uncle John, don’t feed her that.” Ian was quite annoyed, but Sofie loved his uncle’s attempt to charm her.
“Why not?” the older man asked.
“Yeah,” she said turning on her best New York attitude. “Why not?”
Uncle John continued and Sofie was enjoying the battle of will between the two men
immensely. “There are things you eat that aren’t exactly gourmet food.”
“Nothing like that!” Ian exclaimed.
“Two words: Cheese Doodles.” His uncle held out the plate again. “Here you are Your Highness, your Twinkie.”
She took the plate and hadn’t felt this excited since her parents let her have wine with dinner when she was thirteen. It was just a drop, but it made her feel very grown up. “Do I need a fork?”
“Nope,” John said. “Just pick it up.”
Sofie grabbed the finger-shaped golden cake, feeling its sticky texture between her fingers before bringing it to her mouth and taking a bite. As soon as she did… bliss.
The cake was sweet and moist, melting in her mouth, and the cream in the center of the cake was sublime, rich, and delicious. “Oh, my. These are lovely.”
She turned her attention to Ian who was watching her eat the cake, and she had no idea what he was thinking. Uncle John had slipped out of the room, so it was Sofie, Ian, and a very sweet treat.
Licking her lips, she took another bite, and then another, letting the flavors blend together with each bite. She ran her tongue along her lips once more, hoping for some stray cream, and that was when she saw Ian staring at her. Staring, breathing hard and looking like he might take a bite out of her.
“I’m sorry,” she said to him. “I must look silly.”
“You have a little…” He stepped closer to her and dragged his thumb gently over her lower lip. They were both frozen, locked in place, with Ian’s thumb resting right near the opening of her mouth.
Sofie was not a temptress. She’d been called a lot of things by the European tabloids, but that was probably the most ridiculous. She didn’t date much and the men, other suitable Europeans with titles, apparently found her cold. So the thought that ran through her head at that moment surprised her. It was bold, brash, and without thinking too much, she decided to fully take advantage of the opportunity to drive Special Agent Stuart a little crazy.
Turning her head, Sofie took Ian’s thumb in her mouth and sucked off the cream.
The room had gone silent except for the sound of her own heart slamming hard into her ribs. Sofie licked her lips again, knowing she was playing with fire, and that was all it took, she could see it in his eyes…Ian snapped.
He dragged her into his arms, covering her mouth with his in the kind of kiss she’d only read about in romantic fantasies. This kiss was hot, hungry, and Sofie didn’t know if she could handle the man she’d unleashed. But his arms felt so good and his mouth devouring hers felt even better. As his tongue swept into her mouth looking to taste her, to take some of her essence, one of his hands clutched her head, his fingers warm against the skin of her neck. He angled her head to take more of her, to plunge deeper with his tongue, letting her know where he wanted this to go.
His other hand slid down her back to her waist and slipped in the back of her shorts, skimming over the skin of her bottom. He pulled her into him and she felt him. Felt the large erection pressed into her belly, and Sofie knew they weren’t so far apart after all. They still wanted each other, still craved the other’s body, and if she were right, their hearts were still calling for each other, as well. God knew, Sofie’s heart had never been the same since she’d left him.